How they voted

The vote included an amendment to expand the dress committee to include more parents and also to allow logos on shirts for the first year before eliminating them for the second year.

Board member Anne Boryan supported the new dress code at the October board meeting and continued her support Wednesday.

"I was prepared to vote in favor of it when it was before us in October," said Boryan.

"I would like to personally thank the members of the committee for their service," Boryan added. "I appreciate the time and effort they gave to this project and a special thank you for Mrs. (Assistant Superintendent Cathy) Dusman for her willingness to chair the committee."

Board President Norman Blowers and board members Joe Tosten, Carl Barton and Fred Rice are all up for re-election in 2013.

The first public comment section began about 50 minutes after the start of the meeting and wrapped up by 8:15 p.m.

Former board member Renee Sharpe, who helped kick off discussion of a strict dress code policy, spoke in favor of the former revisions that did not include crew neck shirts. Sharpe referred to visits made by administrators to districts that had uniform or apparel policies in place.

"It was amazing. After all of those visits, all of us together recognized the value of an apparel policy for CASD," said Sharpe. "In early February, we held a fashion show for you in this room. You gave us a go ahead. The feedback from you then was so positive even when the policy was more restrictive than the policy we provided to you in the fall."

However, a significantly watered-down version was approved Wednesday night than what was first released in September. This proposal included jeans, shorts for the entire school year, patterns on shirts and crew necks - all banned items in the initial release.

A handful of parents and community members spoke before 8 p.m.

Tom Trgovac cautioned the board.

"If you keep ignoring the people who oppose this initiative, you will run into a brick wall," Trgovac said.

Jeff Lambert questioned the inclusion of elementary students among other reasons.

"If we are trying to deal with cleavage, why on earth do first-graders, second-graders and boys have to do with this policy," Lambert said. "What's that going to solve? It's confusion. Every aspect of this is completely confusing."

Blowers was not in attendance. Vice President Stanley Helman said Blowers was "on a business trip." Blowers was joining the meeting via teleconference. Blowers also missed two meetings in-person earlier this year following the controversial ousting of CASHS boys basketball coach Shawn Shreffler.

The board was expected to take similar action at the Oct. 24 meeting, but ultimately referred the policy back to committee until Wednesday's meeting.

The latest proposal came back with a few changes, including adding crew necks to the list of tops that could be allowed under the regulations and the inclusion of shirts with patterns.

Denim was added before the October meeting.

Several other items of interest gained the board's approval:

- Creation of an additional teaching assistant position at Grandview Elementary School to provide support to learning support students at the school and provide the same support as in other district learning support classrooms

- Creation of four personal care assistant positions to meet additional student needs in the district for elementary life skills and autistic programs

After the meeting, Chambersburg Area Senior High School Principal Buddy Chapel and Assistant Principal Brad Ocker made a presentation about adding a JROTC program at CASHS.

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Brian Hall can be reached at 262-4811 and bkhall@publicopinionnews.com, or follow him on Twitter @bkhallpo.